EK leitet den Turnaround durch Patentverkauf ein

Many of the world's biggest names in electronics and technology, from Canon to LG to Microsoft, are pushing back against the landmark deal Eastman Kodak Co. (EKDKQ) struck to resolve $2.8 billion in U.K. pension claims.
More than a dozen companies on Thursday filed court papers outlining their objections and concerns to a deal that Kodak calls the "centerpiece" of its restructuring: the transfer of its personalized-imaging and document-imaging businesses to its U.K. pensioners.
The deal, which covers such Kodak products and services as cameras, retail photo-printing kiosks and scanners, will not only resolve the $2.8 billion in U.K. pension claims but will also bring in $650 million in cash and noncash consideration to Kodak's bankruptcy estate.
The companies that filed objections say they don't have a problem with the idea of Kodak selling those businesses to its retirees, but they do have a problem with how they and the various agreements they have with Kodak--including patent license agreements--will fare in the sale.
"In their sale motion...the debtors repeat and expand upon aggressive strategies that they have employed in prior sale motions in this case," Nikon Corp. (NINOY, 7731.TO) said in its objection. "The sale motion, which is ambiguous, overreaching, and lacks adequate protection for parties-in-interest, misuses the plan and proposed order to the potential detriment of parties-in-interest, including Nikon."
Nikon's objection, which many of the other companies joined in, points out the deal's lack of protection for the companies' rights as well as the possibility that their agreements could be transferred to the pension plan without their consent or without paying off any amounts owed under them.